News Release:
On May 09, 2023, a suspect, later identified as Joshua Russell Minton, age 34, of Millers Creek, NC, fled from Boone Police Officers during a traffic stop. The suspect led Boone police and deputies of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office in a chase. The suspect abandoned his vehicle in the area of U.S. Hwy. 421 and U.S. Hwy. 221 in Deep Gap and fled into an undeveloped area. Due to the suspect’s fast and reckless driving, our officers were not close enough to see exactly where the suspect ran.
As officers began to search the area, they received some unexpected, but welcomed assistance from some local cows. Apparently, cows do not want suspected criminals loitering in their pasture and quickly assisted our officers by leading them directly to where the suspect was hiding. The cows communicated with the officers as best they could and finally just had the officers follow them to the suspect’s location.
In addition to thanking our officers and deputies for putting themselves in harm’s way, obviously, we want to express our gratitude to the cows for their assistance. This opens up all kinds of questions as to the bovines’ role in crime fighting. Honestly, it is something that we have not considered before now. As we examine the obvious next steps of incorporating a Bovine Tracking Unit into our department’s law enforcement capabilities, there are many factors that we will have to consider:
♦ How adaptable are cows to a variety of police work or can they just find hiding suspects?
♦ Are cows more cost effective than K-9 dogs?
♦ How will we transport cows to the scenes and is this compatible with the Town’s sustainability goals in terms of types of vehicles needed [since], obviously, there are methane issues?
♦ Cost of training, vet care, ballistic vests, etc.?
We at the Boone Police Department are always looking for better ways to serve our community. We may be a small town but, we are a progressive, forward thinking law enforcement agency. For rural law enforcement, we want to be the tip of the spear.
Suspicious cows. I have farmer friends and many state that some cow herds do not like strangers in their pastures. One farmer in particular said his cows could be assholes. LOL!
LOL…way to go cows! I love cows by the way. If I had one it would be a pet. We used to play at our drummers house and his neighbors had cows…they would come up and wanted pet constantly…
Heh. About a month ago, a local farmer friend of mine, Michael, sent me a text with a picture of some of his cows. He asked “You ready for some meat? Want to pick out a cow?” I told him that if I met one, I’d probably not eat it but, pet it. His response…”Cows can be assholes, though not as bad as pigs can be.” I asked him how. “They can be murderous.” He sent a laughing smiley face. No details followed.
Fast forward to last week. A dairy farmer in my home county next door was put into the hospital for surgery after his bull attacked him: https://ranlewdairymilkco.webstarts.com/
I asked Michael if Randy was OK. He said he was doing well. He then said that Randy’s bull was the father of most of his cows.
And, in a wild twist that blew me away…I sent Michael the link to the above story. As it turns out, the guy that the cows helped police find, Michael knew the guy! They had gone bear hunting together. Michael said “He is a meth head, now.”
Now Bulls NO…I would not have a bull at all…a cow yes. I also remember the donkey that I told you about that lived beside us for a while with all of those cows…got into my car one morning and 8 cows were at the fence staring at me…lol it felt spooky…like what the hell do you want from me?
It is a small world…that is funny….I hope he is ok.
I like the curious cow on that page lol… One youtube guy that handles the same kind of dangerous snakes that Chandler does…is getting a pet cow…they are pretty cool animals.
Cows can be a good group to hang out with, too; they will kick you to pieces if you mess with their calf; I know this from personal experience. I love cows; I had about 300 head back in the 70s when I owned a small ranch in Paris, Texas. The bulls are the ones that have that murderous glint in their eye. I once walked to the middle of a pasture, sat down Indian style, and within ten minutes, I was surrounded by a large contingent of my herd. They were either curious or thought I had food. I miss them all.
No sane person tries to hide amongst the cows – hide in the sheep idiot, they don’t like law enforcement, their brain is so focused on grass they probably wouldn’t even notice.. and they are fluffy so you’ll get a good nights sleep before the big cop chase the next day. All I can say is amateur!
May 11, 2023 at 6:01 PM
Cows are very curious…as this shows 🙂
May 11, 2023 at 7:10 PM
One of my global group members was a dairy farmer. He always talked about his cows. He said they were interested in everything and loved music.
May 12, 2023 at 12:38 PM
Yes, we always had a radio in the barn
May 12, 2023 at 8:29 PM
Awwwwwww…❤❤❤
May 11, 2023 at 7:50 PM
Wow, no bull, you can’t make this stuff up! 🙂
May 11, 2023 at 8:43 PM
Nope. LOL! All of this took place in my state’s mountains. Love Boone & Blowing Rock. Mountain cows! LOL!
May 11, 2023 at 8:55 PM
Evidently, you got smart cows there who are happy to use their brains to support local law enforcement! 🙂
May 12, 2023 at 1:00 AM
Suspicious cows. I have farmer friends and many state that some cow herds do not like strangers in their pastures. One farmer in particular said his cows could be assholes. LOL!
May 12, 2023 at 7:59 AM
😂
May 12, 2023 at 9:18 AM
LOL…way to go cows! I love cows by the way. If I had one it would be a pet. We used to play at our drummers house and his neighbors had cows…they would come up and wanted pet constantly…
May 12, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Heh. About a month ago, a local farmer friend of mine, Michael, sent me a text with a picture of some of his cows. He asked “You ready for some meat? Want to pick out a cow?” I told him that if I met one, I’d probably not eat it but, pet it. His response…”Cows can be assholes, though not as bad as pigs can be.” I asked him how. “They can be murderous.” He sent a laughing smiley face. No details followed.
Fast forward to last week. A dairy farmer in my home county next door was put into the hospital for surgery after his bull attacked him:
https://ranlewdairymilkco.webstarts.com/
I asked Michael if Randy was OK. He said he was doing well. He then said that Randy’s bull was the father of most of his cows.
And, in a wild twist that blew me away…I sent Michael the link to the above story. As it turns out, the guy that the cows helped police find, Michael knew the guy! They had gone bear hunting together. Michael said “He is a meth head, now.”
You can’t make this shit up. Small fucking world…
May 12, 2023 at 11:11 AM
Now Bulls NO…I would not have a bull at all…a cow yes. I also remember the donkey that I told you about that lived beside us for a while with all of those cows…got into my car one morning and 8 cows were at the fence staring at me…lol it felt spooky…like what the hell do you want from me?
It is a small world…that is funny….I hope he is ok.
May 12, 2023 at 11:31 AM
The donkey was in the cow “pack.” LOL.
I think you got the “whatcha doin” look.
I know Randy. He is a great guy. I LOVE his gelato. OMG! I await the story.
May 12, 2023 at 11:49 AM
Yea that donkey protected them from anything…they are better than guard dogs.
May 12, 2023 at 8:15 PM
Awesome.
May 12, 2023 at 11:04 AM
https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/gofundme-started-for-longtime-piedmont-triad-dairy-farmer-who-was-attacked-by-a-bull/
May 12, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Damn he was beat up pretty bad…. yea I’m scared of bulls…for a good reason I see.
May 12, 2023 at 11:36 AM
My buddy Ray lives just past another cattle ranch. Farmer Lee Miller has black Angus…
You’ve seen this, haven’t you…
https://cosmic-observation.com/2020/07/18/shutterbug-saturday-animal-friends-5-0/
May 12, 2023 at 11:52 AM
I like the curious cow on that page lol… One youtube guy that handles the same kind of dangerous snakes that Chandler does…is getting a pet cow…they are pretty cool animals.
May 12, 2023 at 11:43 AM
Cows can be a good group to hang out with, too; they will kick you to pieces if you mess with their calf; I know this from personal experience. I love cows; I had about 300 head back in the 70s when I owned a small ranch in Paris, Texas. The bulls are the ones that have that murderous glint in their eye. I once walked to the middle of a pasture, sat down Indian style, and within ten minutes, I was surrounded by a large contingent of my herd. They were either curious or thought I had food. I miss them all.
May 12, 2023 at 8:12 PM
I recently lost a friend that was in Toronto. He was a dairy cow farmer. I spent a decade corresponding with him and loved his cow stories.
Did you read the Fox8 news link, above? I know Randy and this hurts me.
May 23, 2023 at 11:49 PM
No sane person tries to hide amongst the cows – hide in the sheep idiot, they don’t like law enforcement, their brain is so focused on grass they probably wouldn’t even notice.. and they are fluffy so you’ll get a good nights sleep before the big cop chase the next day. All I can say is amateur!
May 24, 2023 at 1:35 AM
LOL! Well said!